Croatian Roads has launched a public procurement for the preparation of an analysis of the expansion of the D8 state road through Kaštela from the existing four to six lanes, which should solve traffic jams on one of the busiest sections in the country, which carries over 54 thousand vehicles daily.
The €60 tender was announced on Monday, and interested bidders have until September 9 to submit their bids. The selected consultant will have four months to produce a comprehensive analysis that will include a traffic study, a preliminary construction design and the creation of an advanced BIM 3D model.
The D8 state road on the 17,5-kilometer section from Plan to Širin in Solin is the second busiest section on the state road network in Croatia. Traffic counts from 2024 show that an average of 54.703 vehicles pass through Solin daily, and during the summer this number jumps to 64.186 vehicles. In Plan, traffic is slightly lower, but still significant, with 25.081 vehicles per day, or 32.484 during the summer season.
The traffic congestion is causing regular traffic jams, which will worsen after the completion of planned infrastructure projects. The construction of the expressway from the Vučevica junction through the Kozjak tunnel to the D8 junction in Kaštel Kambelovac will divert additional traffic to the already congested section. A similar situation is expected after the construction of the new bridge over the Kaštel Bay, which will connect Split with the Kaštel area, according to the tender documentation.
The analysis will cover three key sections. The first section extends from the intersection with the D58 in Plan to the future Kaštel Kambelovac interchange, the second from that interchange to the planned Kaštel Sućurac interchange, and the third ends at Širin in Solin. Each section requires a specific approach due to different spatial constraints and technical challenges.
An additional challenge is the fact that the entire section passes through an urban area with a population of almost 38 thousand. The road expansion will inevitably affect private plots with built-up areas, which requires a detailed analysis of demolition and property acquisition costs.
The selected consultant will be required to prepare a traffic analysis with a model of the current situation and forecasts for the period after the completion of the planned infrastructure projects. The analysis must also include an engineering-geological survey of the terrain, geodetic surveys, and an assessment of the impact on the existing utility infrastructure.
The innovative part of the project is the obligation to create a BIM 3D model that will provide a better insight into the planned solutions and easier communication with the public. The model must show the existing condition of the terrain, the designed route with traffic lanes, shoulders and slopes, and important structures such as overpasses, underpasses and bridges.
The final analysis will include an assessment of all alternative solutions, taking into account spatial, traffic, construction-technical, financial and environmental parameters. The documentation must also be prepared for presentation to the professional public in the Split-Dalmatia County.
Photo: Canva/Foto kreativa portal.hr / Courtesy of Croatian Roads
This text was co-financed by the Fund for Promoting Diversity and Pluralism of Electronic Media.
